“Noted,” I repeat.
“Aren’t you going to give me your name?” His voice sounds sweet, too sweet.
“No. We are not friends.”
“I’d like to bemorethan friends,” he says, voice drippingwith insinuation. It’s a line, practiced. Probably worked for him before.
I should let it go. I shouldn’t push it. Werewolves are notoriously aggressive, especially around mating season, but I can’t help the words from falling out of my mouth, “Dream on, Olcan. I’m a virgin, not desperate.”
His smile vanishes. He grabs my wrist and shoves me back against the wall, teeth bared. “Then I’ll take it.”
Time slows. For a heartbeat, he releases the monster under his charm. I smile coldly and narrow my eyes. “Careful, yourtrueself is showing.”
Chapter 9
THORN
After the first trial, I need a run. Tala joins without question. She always does. For all her sharp tongue and playful bravado, she reads moods better than most. She’s been like a sister to me these past few years, so maybe she can just readme. This is her second season, not having been chosen last year, I dread having to come to these trials without her. But eventually, she will find a mate, she deserves to.
We run for miles across the moonlit valley, through low brush and wind-chilled grass. Over stone ridges and along the curve of the river that threads through the foothills like a silver vein. We collapse at the temple steps, panting. Cold air clinging to our sweat-slicked skin as we shift back.
Tala shifts first, stretching like a cat before speaking. “You’re more ornery today. Something on your mind?”
“No,” I state, walking back toward the entrance.
My mind slips back to last night.We are not friends. The heat of Ember’s hand leaving my shoulder like a brand. The challenge in her eyes. I hadn’t been able to look away. Not from her ginger hair cascading down her back flickingfrom side to side. The three scars that curve her abdomen, or from the shape of her perfect ass as she climbed the stairs before me. The way she paused slightly before climbing the second set of stairs. She didn’t just carry herself like she didn’t need help, she carried herself as if she’d thrived without it.
Gods help me, I noticed everything. She shaves her … legs. Most females don’t bother with grooming like that. Especially since our wolf form has us covered in hair regardless. But Ember had. She did more than just groom, she was tamed downtheretoo. My mouth salivates.
Tala broke me out of my reverie. “You’re drooling there, Alpha.”
When I didn’t respond, she asked me, “Who was that?”
“That was Ember.”
“Typical.” Tala brings me back to the current trek into the temple. The temple walls echo with the sound of our bare feet on stone. Tala falls into step beside me, rubbing her shoulder from the run.
“Did you hear anything different during trial one?” I inquire.
“Huh? The howling?”
“Do they all sound the same to you?” I attempt again.
“For the most part,” she shrugs. “Why?”
“I thought I heard something new today…”
“New?”
“It sounded like… never mind.”
“No, tell me. I want to know what I’m looking for.”
“It sounded like music. Like a song I know but didn’t know the words to.”
“Interesting. I don’t hear music, just sound. You think that’s whatrealmates are supposed to hear?”
“I’ve never heard it in the nine years prior.” I shrug.